07/04 Tranmere 2nd Half

By: Tony Butcher
Date: 08/04/2001

Hurrah upon hurrah, changes at half time. Jeffrey and Clare were replaced by Cornwall and Livingstone, with Town changing to a 4-3-3 formation, Donovan being on the left and Cornwall on the right. Oddly, only Cornwall was made to stay off the pitch and be "properly" substituted.

"Cool Hand Luke and the 'Keeper Killer"

Grimsby Town 3 Tranmere Rovers 1
07 Apr 2001, Nationwide League Division 1

Livingstone was allowed to waddle on when he wanted. Perhaps the referee thought it would take too long for Livvo to make his way from the touchline to the centre, he had to be home by midnight. The change had immediate effect with Livvo in full rampage. Town were more direct (Coyne launched huge drop kicks rather than rolling it out to Handyside) and the pace of the attacks was much quicker. After a couple of minutes Campbell surged forward, received a short pass from Donovan and, from about 25 yards out, to the right of goal, slightly miss-hit a shot a yard or so wide of the 'keeper's left hand post. I seem to recall Livvo's body being involved at some stage in the build up to the shot, barging a couple of defenders off the ball. The grand return of Pouton's toblerone-shaped boots was a the feature of the first ten minutes of the half. He tried a spectacular volley from 25 yards out, to the right of goal. The ball sliced away for a throw in near the corner flag in the covered corner. It's somehow comforting to see players slipping into caricature. A couple of minutes later Gallimore tapped a free kick sideways for Pouton to dribble a miss-hit shot 9 yards wide. Getting closer Al. The free kick followed another Campbell dribble through midfield, only being stopped by a flying lunge. Pouton improved greatly after the break (not hard) and was at the centre of most things. A Town break down the right saw Livvo lay the ball off to Pouton in front of the Stones/Smiths/Findus, he swung over a huge, fast cross-field ball to Donovan, about 15 yards to the left of goal. Donovan laid the ball back to Campbell who cut in from the left and hit a first time low shot which the 'keeper's held as Cornwall followed up. Groves headed a corner very high over the bar and Donovan cut in from the left and miss-hit a shot low to the 'keeper's right. It was, in the end, barely worthy of the description shot, so it was barely a save. And what had Tranmere been up to during this period? Some dangerous looking breakaways (usually involving Koumas running with the ball at his feet), one of which was snaffled out by Handyside, the other by Coyne sprinting off his line to take the ball off Mellon's feet.

Grimsby Town Coyne McDermott Handyside Groves Gallimore Donovan Pouton Coldicott Campbell Jeffrey Clare   Subs Willems Cornwall Livingstone Hyldgaard Butterfield   Attendance 5,816   Referee John Brandwood (Letchworth)   League Table Ps Team P GD Pts 13 Wolves 39 0 49 14 Gills 40 -4 48 15 Norwich 40 -12 46 16 Crewe 38 -12 45 17 Sheff W 41 -22 45 18 Stock't 41 -11 44 19 Pompey 40 -11 43 20 Grimsby 40 -17 43 21 Hudds 39 -6 42 22 Palace 40 -9 42 23 QPR 40 -28 34 24 Tranm' 39 -28 32 Full table

The most dangerous Tranmere attack came after about an hour. They broke down the Town left and a cross from 25 yards was deflected off Gallimore's bottom, spinning between defence and Coyne. One of their midfielders ran through to the left edge of the 6 yard box and knocked the ball past Coyne. He tried to score from a very tight angle, but Coyne saved low to his left, for a corner.

This takes us up to about the 65th minute, when the game entered a very mad period. Cornwall had started to cause Tranmere some difficulties down the right flank, even managing to outpace a defender to cross into the centre. As the other striker was Livvo you will not be surprised to hear that Livvo "wasn't quite fast enough to get into the area". Cornwall was fouled somewhere out on the Town left about 25-30 yards out from goal. Gallimore swung in a free kick which Groves, near the edge of the area in the centre right, headed down towards the left edge of the 6 yard box. CORNWALL made a diagonal run behind a defender, perfectly timed to meet the ball. He seemed to get the ball stuck between his legs, stumble slightly and trip over the ball, sending it into the 'keeper's bottom left hand corner. From 120 yards away he seemed to score by accident, but hey, why complain about mere details of history. We've spent a decade bemoaning our strikers' inability to score scruffy goals. Oh yes, another thing, the crowd went wild. There was a sense that the game was turning and the crowd did get behind the players, making noise and roaring them on into every tackle, every clearance, every throw in gained.

Tranmere suddenly started to become urgent in taking goal kicks and free kicks. They had been wasting time from as early as the 20th minute, with their 'keeper the most blatant. He had a compulsion to discuss matters with the full back on the opposite side from which he was taking a goal kick. So they started to run around a bit more, bit it didn't do them any good. We have Livvo, what more can I say. Town broke away down the right and someone (I can't remember exactly who) chipped a delicate pass towards Livvo, about 25 yards out near the corner of the penalty box. The Tranmere defender missed the ball, no doubt his mental state temporarily unbalanced by being within a couple of inches of Livvo's limbs. This left Livvo "racing" (ok then, moving) towards the goal. The goalkeeper rushed out and the ball was half way between them. Neither stopped or hesitated and Livvo slid forward in what any Town fan would call a determined, strong and fair challenge. The ground shuddered and the ball squirmed out sideway to the right, as both 'keeper and 'keeper killer remained on the ground. Donovan ran forward and crossed towards the goal and CORNWALL tapped the ball in from a yard or so out. Pandemonium, delirium, incredulity. The Tranmere fans went bananas and there was a flurry of activity towards the open corner. The Town fans went even more bananas. Everyone was expecting the referee to award a free kick, as Livvo had basically assassinated the 'keeper, and as the realisation dawned that it WAS a goal the Town fans leapt higher and higher.

You could almost see the metaphorical roof falling in on Tranmere. Their players almost shrank as the Town players became rampant. It's happened innumerable times to Town and it is a most satisfying feeling not to be on the receiving end for once. But wait, there's more.

After a couple of minutes' treatment for the 'keeper, Tranmere kicked off again in almost apologetic fashion. Within a minute Town had scored again. Yes again, that's 3 goals in one game. Another fine flowing surge down the right, involving Cornwall, Donovan and McDermott resulted in Donovan (I think) being sent free behind the full back. He crossed to the centre for Livvo, unmarked in the centre. Livvo cunningly controlled the ball in such a way as to appear to have lost possession by knocking the ball 5 yards away from goal, back towards Donovan. LIVINGSTONE lumbered after the ball, used his bottom to fend off a Tranmere player and slapped the ball high into the left hand side of the goal. Bedlam, madness, hysterics, joy of joy, fans were literally falling over themselves. It was delightful, de-lovely, it was De Livvo.

Tranmere replaced their 'keeper immediately and there were several arguments between their players. The end was nigh. For them. 10 minutes had saved Town's season (for another week at least). It was sheer will by the players and the crowd. The atmosphere which at half time had been so sullen, resigned and almost pathetic was transformed by the substitutions. The players responded and the crowd backed them in one last effort. It may not have been recognisable as football, but was effective. In the circumstances that's what Town needed.

Tranmere rallied in the last 15 minutes as Town sat back a bit, with Livingstone making some special guest appearances in defence. Even Cornwall came back a couple of times. Around the 80th minute Tranmere won a corner on the Town left. It was clipped low and hard to the far post where Flynn, about 4 yards out, headed firmly down. Fortunately for Town it was straight at Coyne, who blocked and dived on the rebound. A couple of minutes later Koumas advanced 15 yards through the (Tranmere) centre right. About 25 yards out he unleashed a powerfully clipped shot waist high to Coyne's right. The ball wobbled and Coyne flung himself sideways and just managed to tip the ball round the post for a corner. A superb save.

As far as incident is concerned, that's it. Willems came on in the last 3 or 4 minutes, replacing Pouton, who had just been flattened by a late tackle. He didn't seem injured though. Willems had one shot, when Gallimore tapped a free kick sideways and he caused severe bruising to a Tranmere backside. The officials didn't bother putting up the board to say how much extra time would be added, it seemed like 5 minutes which, in the circumstances, was a little mean, as there were so many long stoppages. At the end most of the players celebrated like they did against QPR, very touching it was to see Town players show emotion. Handyside, though, gave a perfunctory wave to the crowd and was off down the tunnel very quickly. McDermott was the last to leave, making a point of congratulating Cornwall.

Phwoar, wow, what an emotional 45 minutes. In some ways it was reminiscent of the Forest away game, except this time we were Forest. For 45 minutes we had most of the possession but never, ever, looked like scoring. Tranmere were comfortable, unfussed, and no doubt looking forward to those big three points. Then bang (rather than Zhang), on came our own magic mushroom, Livvo the 'keeper-killer. It was just Livvo's presence which changed the game, Town didn't give the ball away just by passing to a forward. It stuck, he got stuck in and Donovan and Cornwall had space to run into. The midfielders ran and ran and ran, hassling Tranmere and piling forward. All action. All passion. Just what was required. The defence? Groves was outstanding, Handyside his usual calm self. Gallimore made only one minor error all afternoon and McDermott was superb, playing almost as a wing back, bombing up and down in front of the Stones/Smiths/Findus as if his life depended upon it. In a way it did, I suppose.

Excitement, passion, goals. That's what football is about then! The pitch? Perfectly playable by the end.

Nicko's Man of the Match - I thought Groves was outstanding, making numerous interceptions of Futcher-like perception. McDermott had a great offensive 2nd half and was defensively immaculate. Livvo was half man of the match, of course. He was the catalyst for the incredible change. As he scored that'd make him a catalytic converter, I suppose. However I'll plump for the human dynamo, Stuart Campbell. He was everywhere throughout the game. Irrepressible. A vital cog (whereas Livvo made a vital clog).

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